Dieterich Buxtehude - Organ Works (Marie-Claire Alain)

Information

Composer: Dieterich Buxtehude

1. Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BuxWV 149
2. Prelude and Fugue in F-Sharp Minor, BuxWV 146
3. Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BuxWV 139
4. Prelude in D Minor, BuxWV 140
5. Prelude and Fugue in E Major, BuxWV 141
6. Prelude, Fugue and Chaconne in C Major, BuxWV 137
7. Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, BuxWV 142
8. Prelude and Fugue in F Major, BuxWV 145
9. Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, BuxWV BuxWV 153
10. Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BuxWV 148
11. Toccata in D Minor, BuxWV 155
12. Passacaglia in D Minor, BuxWV 161
13. Toccata in F Major, BuxWV 156
14. Fugue in C Major, BuxWV 174
15. Chaconne in C Minor, BuxWV 159
16. Chaconne in E Minor, BuxWV 160
17. Canzona in C Major, BuxWV 166
18. Canzonetta in E Minor, BuxWV 169
19. Canzona in G Major, BuxWV 171
20. Toccata and Fugue in F Major, BuxWV 157
21. Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BuxWV 163
22. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223
23. Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BuxWV 178
24. Magnificat primi toni, BuxWV 203
25. Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, BuxWV 183
26. Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BuxWV 207
27. In dulci jubilo, BuxWV 197
28. Puer natus in Bethlehem, BuxWV 217
29. Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich, BuxWV 182
30. Te Deum laudamus, BuxWV 218: I. Praeludium
31. Te Deum laudamus, BuxWV 218: II. Te Deum laudamus
32. Te Deum laudamus, BuxWV 218: V. Pleni sunt coeli
33. Te Deum laudamus, BuxWV 218: III. Te martyrum
34. Te Deum laudamus, BuxWV 218: IV. Tu devicto
35. Komm, heileger Geist, Herr Gott, BuxWV 199
36. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BuxWV 211
37. Nun bitten wir den heil'gen Geist, BuxWV 208
38. Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, BuxWV 186
39. Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn, BuxWV 192
40. Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BuxWV 189
41. Prelude and Fugue in F Major, BuxWV 144

Marie-Claire Alain, organ

Date: 1988 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

_____________________

To mark the centenary of Marie-Claire Alain, widely recognized as the preeminent organist of her era, Warner Classics is releasing a comprehensive 53-CD box set alongside the digital debut of Dietrich Buxtehude’s complete organ works on streaming and download platforms. This collection offers a brilliant interpretation of Buxtehude’s preludes, toccatas, and chorale variations, showcasing the composer’s pivotal role as a precursor to J. S. Bach. Notably, these performances represent one of the earliest recordings made on the historic North German Baroque organ at St Martin’s Church in Groningen following its meticulous restoration, reviving a landmark instrument previously deemed beyond repair.

Dietrich Buxtehude (c. 1637–1707) was an esteemed Danish-German composer and organist whose appointment at St. Mary’s Church in Lübeck rendered the city a major musical destination, famously attracting young masters such as Handel and J.S. Bach. Renowned for his church cantatas, sacred vocal compositions, and pioneering evening Abendmusiken concert series, Buxtehude made his most lasting impact through his organ repertoire. His toccatas, preludes, fugues, and passacaglias profoundly shaped the North German Baroque tradition and directly influenced Bach’s own organ compositions. Though a significant portion of his output remains lost, Buxtehude’s surviving works showcase a masterwork of devotational simplicity and expressive technique.

Born into a distinguished French musical family, Marie-Claire Alain (1926–2013) was a pioneering organist and pedagogue whose career was profoundly shaped by the tragic wartime loss of her composer brother, Jehan. After earning four Premier Prix at the Paris Conservatoire, she launched an international career encompassing over 2,000 recitals performed entirely from memory. As the world’s most-recorded organist with over 260 releases, Alain achieved the singular feat of recording the complete works of J.S. Bach three times. Her expansive discography spans from Baroque masters to modern composers, cementing her legacy as a vital bridge for historical organ traditions.